62 



ISMENE KNIGHTII. 



When found it was in full bloom, and the swamp in which it grew was com- 

 pletely studded over with its umbellate clusters of flowers, and the whole 

 atmosphere was perfumed with their delicious fragrance. For some additional 

 and very interesting particulars respecting the discovery of this plant, we beg 

 leave to refer our readers to the " Monthly Scraps" of our last number, furnished 

 by an esteemed correspondent, to whom they were directly communicated by 

 Mr. Henry Knight. 



After a careful examination of the plant in question, we cannot consider it 

 to be generically distinct from Ismene, although it presents some few (but by no 

 means important) points of difference ; in the size of the anther, in its point of 

 attachment, as well as in some other characters by which, according to Mr. 

 Herbert, Ismene is distinguished, our plant is decidedly an Ismene, of which it 

 will form a new and most desirable species. We shall be anxious to ascertain 

 whether the seeds of this plant will be found to exhibit the same peculiarity in 

 their mode of germination as those of the other known species of Ismene. " The 

 seed of Ismene," says Mr. Herbert,* " vegetates immediately in a remarkable 

 manner, forming a bulb as big as itself (sometimes much bigger), far under 

 ground, without pushing any leaf. As soon as the seed rots, the young bulb 

 must be left without water till the next spring. A person unaware of the 

 peculiarity of this genus and Choretis, when he found the seed rotten, would 

 be likely to throw away the earth, without suspecting the formation of the bulb 

 near the bottom of the pot." 



The genus Ismene is closely allied to Pancratium, from which it has been 

 separated on account of some peculiarities of structure by which they may be 

 severally distinguished, but upon which we have not space at this time to dwell. 

 It was so named by Salisbury from Ismene, the daughter of GEdipus and J ocasta. 



As regards the treatment of the different species of Ismene, Mr. Herbert 

 observes, that " absolute rest in winter is essential to this genus, which delights 

 in very light sandy soil ; its cultivation is easy when those two requisites are 

 observed." We are not acquainted with Mr. Knight's treatment of this parti- 

 cular species, but, as it flowers in March, its season of repose must be during 

 the summer months. Many of the American bulbs are found to thrive well and 

 flower freely, if watered rather copiously as soon as the leaves appear ; when the 

 flower-scapes begin to show themselves they should be placed in a pan of water. 

 Judging from the state of the swamp in which the present plant was found, we 

 should have no doubt of its succeeding well under similar treatment. 



* Amaryllidacese. By the Hon. and Rev. W. Herbert. 



